This year, my husband Jay and I were fortunate enough to spend some time in Florida.

As I am in the period of “shana” (the year of mourning for my beloved mother), I am on Zoom every morning at 7:30 am to say Kaddish with my Holy Blossom community. While it is not the same as being together in person, I would like to mention how grateful I am to the lay leaders and our clergy who perform this mitzvah and enable those of us in mourning to remember our loved ones.

Given these challenging and difficult days for our people, and especially for our brothers and sisters in Israel, many of us want to be together to find comfort, strength and support in each other.

We were so delighted when Cantor Rosen suggested we plan a Holy Blossom Temple Shabbat in South Florida.  Close to 50 members of our congregation came together at the home of Darren Sukonick and Matthew Sapera while Cantor Rosen led us in song and prayer.  We were joined virtually by members of Congregation Shirat Ha’Yam in Nantucket and were able to light Shabbat candles together with those of you in the Mishkan at HBT.

Many of us did not know one another, and we were so happy to meet new people, be together and look forward to seeing each other again once we are back in Toronto.

Together we helped create a Kehillat Kedosha – a scared community – and as Cantor Rosen noted in his D’var Torah, “the Mishkan is beautified, elevated and made complete with your presence and participation this Shabbat. Despite the Mishkan’s seemingly temporary nature, what happens when Jews gather is truly eternal”.

Heartfelt thanks to Cantor Rosen for the inspiration and leadership, Darren Sukonick and Matthew Sapera for their warm and gracious hospitality, Iris Spitz for her assistance and all who joined to be together for a special Holy Blossom Temple Shabbat in Florida.

Carole Sterling, Immediate Past Chair
World Union for Progressive Judaism